The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 07 eBook

SCENE VI

GRUMBKOW and SECKENDORF come in. Each
carries under his arm a small bundle of red-bound
books.

GRUMBKOW.

Forgive us, Your Majesty—­but it is incredible
that such unprecedented crimes should occur in the
very bosom of the Royal Family!

KING.

What’s the matter now?

GRUMBKOW.

Your Majesty has already been informed about the Frenchman
who was found wandering through the streets of Berlin
without any proper passport or identification, the
man who had the temerity to say he had come to teach
Princess Wilhelmine his language.

KING.

It was only a wigmaker from Orleans.

SECKENDORF.

Oh, but we have discovered further complications,
Your Majesty! Books were found in this man’s
possession, books which point to a dangerous connection
with Rheinsberg.

GRUMBKOW.

Convince yourself, Your Majesty. These immoral
French writings are all marked with the initials of
His Highness the Crown Prince.

SECKENDORF.

F.P.R.

GRUMBKOW.

Frederic, Prince Royal.

[The KING starts in anger, takes up one
of the books and then touches the bell. EVERSMANN
comes in.]

KING.

Eversman [with conscious impressiveness], my
spectacles! [EVERSMANN goes out and returns again
with a big pair of glasses.] The Attorney-General
must make a thorough examination of this vagrant’s
papers.... I will not have these French clowns
in my country. [He looks through one of the books.]
The Crown Prince’s seal—­But no—­no
... the vagabond must have stolen it from him.

GRUMBKOW.

Or else the books were intended for the Princess’
instruction.

KING.

This sort of book? These French—­hold!
hold! what have we here—­is this not the
disgusting novel written by the hunchback Scarron,
the husband of the fine Madame Maintenon—­his
notorious satire upon our Court?

GRUMBKOW AND EVERSMANN (together).

Our Court?

KING (turning the leaves).

A satire on us all—­on me—­on
Seckendorf, Grumbkow, Eversmann.

EVERSMANN.

On me, too? KING (serious).

The Crown Prince has underscored most of it, that
it may be better understood. Here is a Marshal
with the nickname le chicaneur. You know
that’s meant for you, Grumbkow.